Informed consent: what do patients really want to know?

Although it is generally advised to provide patients with as much information as possible during the informed consent process, little is known about the amount and type of information that patients actually desire. The purpose of this study was to address this question.

We gave 212 patients (93 men and 119 women) presenting to an emergency clinic for oral surgery, ranging in age from 18 years to more than 50 years, a questionnaire containing 12 questions at their initial visit that asked them how much information they would like about the general and specific risks associated with the procedure. They were also asked when they would like to receive that information and whether they would like it in written form.

Of the patients, 57% wanted to know about all complications, 33% wanted to know only about the most common complications, and 10% did not want to know anything about possible complications. The desire to know about complications increased along with their suggested frequency. Seventy-eight percent said they would like written as well as verbal information, and most wanted it provided before scheduling their operation and again just before undergoing it. The only difference between the responses from men and women was that significantly more men wanted to know about the risk of surgery not improving their symptoms and the risk of nerve damage. There was no relationship between the age of the patient and the responses given.

A thorough informed consent process generally provides more information than most patients desire.